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Analysts expect higher profit for Wendy's (WEN) when the company reports its third quarter results on Thursday, November 8, 2012. The consensus estimate is calling for profit of 5 cents a share, reflecting a rise from 4 cents per share a year ago.

For the fiscal year, analysts are expecting earnings of 15 cents per share. Revenue is projected to be 4.6% above the year-earlier total of $611.4 million at $639.6 million for the quarter. For the year, revenue is projected to roll in at $2.51 billion.

A year-over-year revenue growth in the second quarter broke a three-quarter streak of declining revenue. Revenue rose 3.8% in the second quarter and fell 30% in the first quarter, 26.8% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year and 29% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Last quarter's loss snapped a streak of earnings in the previous two quarters. The company saw a loss of $5.5 million in the second quarter. Prior to that, it earned net income of $12.3 million in the first quarter and profit of $4 million in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.

Most analysts think investors should stand pat on Wendy's, with 14 of 18 analysts rating it hold. Analyst sentiment has improved recently, as the number of buy ratings has risen slightly over the past three months.